The ViewPoint

Mount View Middle School

April 10, 2015

Upcoming Dates

April 14

Report Cards Issued

Principal’s Corner

10 TV alternatives

Watching too much television can have a negative effect on your middle grader’s learning. That’s why it’s important to monitor what your child does in his spare time.

The next time your child wants to “turn on” the TV, help him “tune out” by recommending other activities. He could:

  1. Ride his bike.
  2. Read his favorite magazine.
  3. Build a model car.
  4. Draw a picture.
  5. Walk the dog.
  6. Listen to music.
  7. Write a letter to a friend.
  8. Play a board game.
  9. Shoot some hoops.
  10. Help cook dinner.

Source: Resources for Educators

High School Courses Taken in Middle School

The updated policy includes a MAJOR change for high school courses taken in middle school.

  • High school courses taken in middle schoolbeginning in the 2015 - 2016 school year:
  • passed courses will count toward the 21 credit requirement.
  • grades and credits will be reflected on the high school transcript.
  • grades earned will NOT calculate into the GPA.
  • If a high school student retakes a course taken in middle school:
  • the high school grade will be calculated into the GPA.
  • only one credit will be awarded.

Spring Testing Dates at MVMS

The MSA Science Test will be administered to all 8th grade students during periods 1 & 2 on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 and Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Please make sure that you child arrives to school on time during these testing days.

All students will be participating in the EOY (End of the Year) assessments for PARCC in Math and English Language Arts (ELA). Please make sure that your child arrives to school on time on the day of his/her test. The testing schedule for these assessments are:

Monday, April 20, 2015 ~ All 8th grade students will be taking the PARCC ELA EOY assessment.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015 ~ All 7th grade students will be taking the PARCC ELA EOY assessment.

Friday, April 24, 2015 ~ All 6th grade students will be taking the PARCC ELA assessment.

Monday, April 27, 2015~ All 8th grade students will be taking the PARCC Math EOY assessment.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015 ~ All 7th grade students will be taking the PARCC Math EOY assessment.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 ~ All 6th grade students will be taking the PARCC Math EOY assessment.

More information about the PARCC assessments can be found on the Mount View Middle School website under HCPSS Resources. The following website will also provide additional information: HYPERLINK "

SAVE THE DATE! Middle School Program Overview is April 14th

Mount View Middle School invites parents of 5th grade students to attend an overview of the middle school and G/T programs on Tuesday, April 14th at 7pm. Ms. Szalecki, the 6th grade counselor, will present information on the middle school courses and schedule. Mrs. Mako, the G/T resource teacher, will discuss the G/T program and its many offerings.

This overview is designed for parents only.Students will attend a visitation during the school day on May 19th.

It's Time To Order YEARBOOKS!
Orders can be placed online with the yearbook company's website.There is NO additional charge for this convenience. No more lost checks in backpacks or lockers! Just go to ybpay.lifetouch.com and enter 9869915 as the yearbook code. From there, you'll be prompted to order your yearbook.
The yearbook costs $25 and is an 80 page hardback book in full color which will be given to students during the last week of school. Please have all orders in by April 20th. If you have any questions about ordering a yearbook, please contact Ms. Stumpfl at .

FREDERICK KEYS FOR READING
The "Frederick Keys for Reading" promotional weekend is coming up on April 24th-26th. Any student who read three books and logged their reading on the designated bookmark may attend a baseball game for free. The bookmark serves as the ticket voucher and should be presented when attending ONE of the following games: Friday, Apr. 24 @ 7:00 PM (game followed by fireworks)
Saturday, Apr. 25 @ 2:00 PM ("Star Wars" Day--meet "Star Wars" Characters)
Sunday, Apr. 26 @ 2:00 PM (game followed by Candy Drop-150 pounds of candy will be dropped into the outfield)
A pre-game parade is scheduled 30 minutes before each game. For more information call 301-815-9939 or visit the website, frederickkeys.com.
Plan to attend one of the ballgames for a fun and exciting time at the ball park.

Reading Day and Young Authors' Recognition~~
Sunday, April 12th, is "Reading Day" at Barnes & Noble in the Long Gate Shopping Center. This event will be held from 11:00-4:30. Mount View student, Joyce Chung, along with other Young Authors from the county, will be recognized and invited to read her original poem entitled "Safe Haven". Joyce's poem won first place at the state level. Barnes and Noble will donate a percentage of proceeds on that day to the "Books for Babies" program. Everyone is invited to attend.

From the Health Room

Immunization Requirements for the 2015-2016

School Year

Students entering 7th Grade for the 2015-2016 school year are

required by the State of Maryland to have a meningitis vaccine and a Tdap vaccine by the first day of school, August 24, 2015.

Please contact your child’s health care provider to obtain documentation of these vaccines (if they have previously been administered) or to schedule an appointment to receive the required vaccinations. Failure to provide proof of updated immunizations by the first day of school next year could result in your child being excluded from school. Please turn in the necessary documentation to the Health Room as soon as possible. Physician’s offices may fax immunization documentation directly to the Health Room at

410-442-8050. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Health Room at 410-313-5550. Thank you!

Green Tip of The Month: Plant Butterfly Weed NOT Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bush is an invasive species that only provides nectar for butterflies. You'll commonly see it being sold in garden centers because it does attract many butterflies. The problem is that butterflies can't lay their eggs on butterfly bush, so it's difficult for them to reproduce and survive.
Please think about butterflies when you choose plants for your yard. Purchase native species like butterfly weed and Joe-Pye weed to ensure that your plants are both beautiful AND helpful!
If you want to learn more about how to construct a butterfly garden, the Green Team will be available at the G/T Open House on May 19th from 6:30-7:30. They can give you a tour of Mount View's butterfly garden and answer your questions!

Today Build Tomorrow: Full STEAM ahead!
Mount View's STEAM committee would like to thank Mr. Skopic for being the first guest for the school's new lunchtime speaker series: Chat and Chew. Students in 6th and 7th grades gathered during lunch on March 25th to learn about the green roofs that Mr. Skopic has designed and to receive their own sedum plant to take home!
The next Chat and Chew will be on April 22nd for all 3 grades. The STEAM committee will air a special video on extremely fast electric cars that demonstrates how the designs of TODAY become the technology of TOMORROW. Students can get a pass to attend the event from the cafeteria on the 22nd just like they would for going to the media center. There's no need to sign up in advance!
Why are we a STEAM committee and not a STEM committee? Because the "A" stands for art and design... a critical component of innovation. Learn more at stemtosteam.org.

Gifted And Talented Summer Programs

The Maryland Summer Centers for Gifted and Talented Students is celebrating its 48th year this summer. Programs are available for Gifted and Talented students/advanced learners currently in grades 3 through 12. Subject areas include Ecosystem Education, Engineering and Robot Design, Fine and Performing Arts, Creative Writing, Physics of Wind and Solar Power, Space Engineering and Robotics, as well as Biotechnology and Forensic Science. Some Centers offer a residential experience and others are held during the day only.

ALL Centers offer partial or full financial assistance!

For more information and to begin the NEW ONLINE APPLICATION process, please visit the Center website at : HYPERLINK " \t "_blank"

The application deadline for most centers is April 17.

PTA News

Ice Cream Social tosupportchildren living with Rett Syndrome!

We have funactivitiesplanned along with baked goods andmusic providedby theSchool of Rock!
Enjoy an evening of fun withyourMVMS Community andsupporta great cause!

Date: Wednesday, April 22nd

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Where:MVMS Cafeteria

Make your own Sundae- $1.00 per scoop!
All proceeds willbenefit theAlice's Dream Foundation( HYPERLINK " \t "_blank"
The mission of Alice's Dream Foundation is to provide families in need with durable medical equipment to provide greater independence and quality of life for their children living with RettSyndrome.

Backpack Buddies Program-Are you up next?

The followingFalcon Time Classroomsare asked to bring in donations for our 8th and FINAL collection:

Mezeivtch, Gavazzi, & Jennifer!

DUE Thursday, April 23rd!
Did you know…? Food insecurity exists in 17.2 million households in America, 3.9 million of them with children.

Use this link for a food list or to gather more information about this program: HYPERLINK " \t "_blank"

Karaoke &PizzaNight -RESCHEDULED!

The MVMS PTA Community Outreach Committee cordially invites you to join us for Karoake and Pizza!

Date:Thursday, April 30th

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Where: MVMS Cafeteria

$2.00per slice(cheese or pepperoni)

Purchase of pizza includesFREEbottomless Caesar saladanddrinks and refills (lemonade and iced tea)

Dessert: baked goods will be provided by the Community Outreach Committee student members and sold for $1.00. HYPERLINK " \t "_blank" Proceeds to support Operation HYPERLINK " \t "_blank" Smile( HYPERLINK " \t "_blank" .Operation Smile provides free surgeries to repair cleft lip,cleft palate and other facial deformities for children around the globe. Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft. A child with a cleft has twice the odds of dying before their first birthday. Children with cleft conditions who survive may have difficulty eating, speaking, hearing or breathing properly. In some places, they are shunned and rejected. And in too many cases, their parents can't afford the surgeries they need to live a productive life.

Questions? Contact: HYPERLINK " \t "_blank" Theresa HYPERLINK " \t "_blank" Yodzisat HYPERLINK " \t "_blank" , HYPERLINK " \t "_blank" Chele Ruetschat HYPERLINK " \t "_blank" r HYPERLINK " \t "_blank" Mrs.Parsonat HYPERLINK " \t "_blank" .

PTA - Needs volunteers for next school year!!
We are specifically looking for a group of volunteers to help fill open committee chair positions for the 2015-2016 school year. This group should consist of at least three people (preferably one person from each feeder school) and the name of this group is called theNominating Committee. Don't be shy! It is a great way to learn more about the PTA and meet new people in your school community. If you have an interest in joining this committee or just want to learn more, please contactTheresa Yodzis, 410.531.4929 or HYPERLINK " \t "_blank" .

Send in those soda pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House!

The Community Outreach Committee iscollecting soda pop tabs (aluminum) for the Ronald McDonald House.The funds generated from recycling these aluminum gems help offset expenses for families so they can have a home away from home with children receiving medical care. This collection of pop tabs goes until the end of the school year. Collection containers can be found around the school or send in directly to Mrs. Parson's classroom. Thank you - every bit makes a difference!

Students enrolled in the Maryland Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement
Program (MESA) from the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) are ready
to compete in the Howard County Regional MESA Day competitions. The
competitions will be held April 10, 2015, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Kossiakoff
Conference and Education Center at the Johns Hopkins University- Applied Physics
Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, MD. These science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) competitions involve a variety of events that include students
at the elementary, middle, and high school grade levels. Students will compete in
cyber security and computer programming events in which engineers and scientists
will evaluate their programming skills. Bridges designed and built out of balsa
wood under strict guidelines will be assessed for efficiency and structural integrity.
Creative and innovative abilities of students will be evaluated in events such as
effective communications and the storybook theme park ride. Construction and
racing of a Hovercraft will also be a part of this year's event. Middle and high
schools will compete in the Prosthetic Arm Challenge, which is the MESA USA
National competition, with the winner being eligible to compete for a chance to
represent Maryland in the national event in Ogden, Utah in June. HCPSS schools
that will compete include: Bryant Woods ES, Guilford ES (Monarch Mills after school program),
St. John's Lane ES, Lake Elkhorn MS, Murray Hill MS, Oakland Mills MS, Patapsco MS, Atholton HS,
Howard HS, Long Reach HS, Oakland Mills HS, Reservoir HS, and Wilde Lake HS.
HCPSS MESA students that win at this local competition will compete against
students from other Maryland school districts in the State Finals.

MVMS Website

The MVMS websitehas a new look!Visit HYPERLINK " bookmark for future reference.

Follow us on Twitter! @hcpss_mvms

The Marriotts Ridge High School Band and Music Foundation Present:

Jazz at the Ridge on Friday, April 10 at 7:00 pm in the MRHS Theater

Please join us for an night filled with great Jazz! This year's concert will feature The Marriotts Ridge Big Band, Jazz Combo, and a special combined performance with the Mount View Middle School Jazz Band along with our featured Guest Artist: David Bach and the David Bach Consort

The Baltimore/Washington area is home to some great Jazz artists and each year we strive to bring the best local talent to our stage. This year's featured guest artist is the David Bach and the David Bach Consort. Keyboardist and composer David Bach is a musician of many stripes. As an established fixture of the music metro area music scene, Bach has honed a craft worthy of recognition from a dedicated fan base. He is the recipient of two Gold Records and winner of the Maryland State Art Council Performance Award. His band, The David Bach Consort, was the winner of the Jazz Discovery Showcase on BET. They have performed with BB King at the Kennedy Center, and was voted Best Instrumental Band by Music Monthly Magazine. He was a finalist for the 2014 Maryland Music Awards in the Jazz category. For much more visit HYPERLINK " \t "_blank"

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door and can be ordered by sending an email to HYPERLINK " \t "_blank"
Please be sure to include number of tickets needed and contact information in your message.

Community Information:

The following announcements have been approved by the PublicInformation Office for school newsletters and distribution. These events are neithersponsored nor endorsed by the Howard County Public School System.

Recreation and Parks

Recreation & Parks has established local baseball teams for several age groups in your community. We are writing to invite you and your neighbors to participate in the Columbia Baseball League (CBL).Come help us bring baseball back to your community. First time and experienced players are welcome. Thanks to support from the Howard County Public School System, permits for your local school fields were issued to Recreation & Parks.We recognize some families could use a little extra assistance with the price of registration. Recreation & Parks has a sliding scale for financial assistance program.Howard County residency is required for financial assistance. To apply for financial assistance, a scholarship application and acceptable proof of income must be submitted. Applications and income verification can be faxed to 410-313-4658, emailed to HYPERLINK "mailto:"r mailed/delivered to Howard County Recreation & Parks, 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046.

North Laurel Community Center

A new, free walking program for the community beginning Sat., Mar. 28, at the North Laurel Park, at the North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whisky Bottom Road, Laurel MD.The walking program will be every Sat. from Mar. 28-Oct. 31.New member registration is at 8:45 a.m. program is 9-10 a.m. For more information call 410-740-7601.

The First Tee

A unique youth development program that teaches children and youth ages 7-14 core values and healthy habits through the game of golf. Classes begin in Apr. at Fairway Hills Golf Club in Columbia and additional program locations will be offered around the county this summer. Sessions are $60-$150 and scholarships are available. For more information visit HYPERLINK "